Archive for the 'Ella Fitzgerald' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

Elvis Costello and Ben Folds, Röyksopp and Robyn, salutes to the Beatles, Marvin Gaye and James Brown – they’re all happening at the Hollywood Bowl this summer, as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2014 season at the landmark.

Costello and Folds, who will perform individual sets with the orchestra on Sept. 5-6, come toward the end of the schedule, as does another symphonic collaboration, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio’s solo headlining debut at the Bowl on Sept. 26.

The touring teaming of Norwegian electronic outfit Rökysopp with Swedish pop star Robyn will land at the venue on June 29 as part of KCRW’s annual World Festival series. Janelle Monáe, who turned in another stunner last month in Anaheim, will return June 22 to kick off that program along with her ongoing opening act, Roman GianArthur, and an excellent bonus: Afropop ensemble Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.

The NPR outlet’s other evenings include Reggae Night XIII with Jimmy Cliff, Shaggy and Don Carlos, July 20; a solo turn from Glen Hansard (Oscar winner from the Frames and the Swell Season) with an ideal complement, Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine, plus another act to be announced, Aug. 10; and an enticing bill on Sept. 21 featuring Brazilian master Caetano Veloso and acclaimed indie figures Andrew Bird and Devendra Banhart, with a fourth to be named later.

Is there an aging portrait of Sade tucked away somewhere in Nigeria? Some soul-selling deal still in place that was struck without her consent, before her English mother moved her back to the U.K. at age 4, just as Beatlemania was erupting?

She's 52 now, but you wouldn't know it to gaze upon her unchanged beauty. Madonna is a year older and looks every day of it, no matter how lithely yoga-fit she remains. Ms. Adu, on the other hand, the transfixing chanteuse with the smoky voice who returned Friday night for a stretch of Southern California performances with her same-named band after a decade away -- she doesn't seem the slightest bit different than she did in 2001, or 1992, or even 1985.

Her wrinkle-free face and ruby red lips: still the same. Her raven mane, initially pulled back to accent a tight black cat-suit of an outfit, complete with stiletto heels, then later let loose to cascade atop a sparkling white gown: still exactly the same. And has she gained even an ounce? Google a picture of her from Live Aid and place it next to any fan-snapped shot from this sold-out show at Staples Center – the time-defying similarities are stunning.

What has changed, albeit subtly, is Sade's live demeanor, plus the staging that supports it. Right from the start, as she and her eight-man band rose up from underneath an otherwise empty stage to march through the martial groove of “Soldier of Love,” the iconic vocalist appeared demonstrably happier than she was 10 years ago.

When she wowed at the former Irvine Meadows back then, touring behind Lovers Rock (2000), you could detect a distance between artist and audience. Clearly grateful for the adulation, she still presented herself as almost untouchable, the sophisticated ice queen re-emerged from seclusion for a rare sighting before hurrying back to her palace.

Right, well, Friday night the West Coast got its own benchmark performance from the Canadian crooner. Call it Michael Bublé Conquers Staples Center.

And it was sensational, positively sensational. The sort of superstar-solidifying show you just know they'll be talking about 25 years and more from now.

To understand why it may loom so large, however -- and why it already must stand as a personal high for the guy -- it'll help to first get some personal perspective.

“A lot has changed with you, I'm sure … and a lot has changed with me,” Bublé, now 34, mentioned to the captivated capacity crowd at the cavernous arena at the outset of his nearly two-hour performance. There was a fleeting aw-shucks to his voice just then -- a humbled moment that stood apart from the rest of his charming, saucy personality. You could detect the gravity of those changes are probably a lot more than we may know.